JEAN-FRANĂOIS CARLY: SURRENDER AFTER
Rebecca |
Shot on medium format using only natural light, Jean-François Carlyâs new series, Surrender After, comprises fifty striking black and white portraits of individuals at home, on their beds, in the nude. Itâs a unique, very personal project: each subject featured is an acquaintance or friend of the prominent fashion photographer, who he met at a social event or party, usually in Londonâs East End.
While Carly is best known for his fashion photography (with his work having appeared in numerous publications and top fashion titles such as GQ, Visionaire, and Fashion Now), he started shooting this intimate portrait series four years ago, exhibiting the first half in Paris, before deciding to shoot a second part, made up of 25 more portraits, last year.
From today, the series is on show at Shoreditchâs Forge & Co, where viewers are invited to peruse the entire collection of 50 portraits. Ahead of attending the launch last night, we caught up with Jean-François to find out more.
Kathryn |
How did the experiencing of shooting people you had met in social situations compare to working with someone you know professionally?
I didnât direct too much, I wanted more natural poses, unless [their pose] was a bit of an awkward shape, [whereas] in fashion, I direct more. Very quickly Iâd shoot one or two rolls, which is like 10-20 frames. I would also take a Polaroid before. It usually took five, six, seven minutes maximum before [the subject] would start to become a little self-conscious or start posing too much or questioning the pose. I would try to keep the essence of the first click, because sometimes even the Polaroid has something a bit magical, a bit natural, the more pictures you take, the [more the] person starts to move differently or start to concentrate too much.
Natasha |
What was the shooting process? And why did you decide to photograph people at home in their beds?
The bedroom is the safest place in your flat or house. Itâs where you be yourself and relax. I think the bed is like this mother/womb; youâre like a foetus when you relax in it. You can do everything in your bed, apart from maybe go to the bathroom. Itâs a relaxed place where people who arenât used to being naked in front of people, they feel more comfortable. Sometimes you see a bit of duvet and/or a white wall [in the images], which is like a very blank canvas.